When Do The Four Seasons Start And End

Why: December, January, and February are statistically the coldest three-month period. This is why "winter storms" in early December feel appropriate, while the astronomical winter hasn't technically begun yet.

Key advantage: Meteorological seasons are fixed. They always start on the same day of the same month. This makes calculating seasonal statistics (average temperature, total rainfall, heating degree days) incredibly easy.

Let’s clear up a few persistent myths about the seasons.

Myth 1: The solstice is the "middle" of summer or winter. when do the four seasons start and end

Myth 2: The Earth is farther from the sun in winter, which is why it's cold.

Myth 3: The equinox means exactly 12 hours of day and night everywhere.

Myth 4: The seasons start on the same day worldwide. Why: December, January, and February are statistically the

The Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms, each about 15 days long. While the solstices and equinoxes are included (as "Summer Solstice" and "Winter Solstice"), the start of a season is different:

These dates are based on the sun’s celestial longitude reaching 315°, 45°, 135°, and 225°, respectively.

The concept of seasons is based on Earth’s axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. However, there are two widely accepted systems for marking the boundaries of spring, summer, autumn, and winter: the astronomical seasons (dependent on solstices and equinoxes) and the meteorological seasons (based on annual temperature cycles and the calendar). Let’s clear up a few persistent myths about the seasons

Winter begins on the shortest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere).

Meteorologists and climatologists use fixed calendar dates for simpler record-keeping and forecasting. These seasons align more closely with the annual temperature cycle. The dates are fixed and do not vary by year.

Seasons shape what we eat, how we work, where we travel, and even how cultures mark the year. But “when” seasons start depends on which definition you use — astronomical, meteorological, or cultural — and on where you are on Earth. This post explains each system, why they differ, and what those differences mean for weather, ecosystems, culture, and everyday life.

To complicate matters further, different cultures around the world define seasons in their own unique ways.